Brake-beam.



W. C. HEUGCOCK.

BRAKE BEAM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30. 1911.

Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

UNIT SATEE PATENT CFFTCEQ WILLIAM C. HEDGCOCK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN STEEL 'JF'UUNDRIES, 01E CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COMORA'IION OF NEW JERSEY.

morass.

Specification of Letters Patent.

lPjatented Apr. 22, refs.

Application filed March 30, 1917. Serial lilo. 158,736.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. HEDG- COCK, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brake- Beams, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to brake beams and particularly to a novel beam' adapted to be formed from a standard commercial shape.

An objectin the construction of brake beams is to so dispose the metal of the beam as to secure the maximum resistance and rigidity, the latter being especially desirable. When constructing the article in the form of a simple beam, as distinguished from a truss, the ll-beam is most eflicient. However, difiiculty has been experienced in so forming such a beam as to enable the association therewith of a bearing for the brake heads without weakening the beam and without excessive labor cost.

The desired result is secured by reducing the ends of a commercial I-beam b coinpressing or forging the same, the width of the flanges and thickness of the web remaining substantially the same. The sleeve or trunnion forthe brake head is provided with a central opening of the shape of the reduced end, and is fitted thereon and secured by a transverse rivet.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein,

Figure 1 is an elevation of one end of a beam formed in accordance with my invention Fig. 2'is an edge view of the same;

Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the finished beam;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the beam;

Fig. 5 is an end view, and,

Fig. 6 is an end view with the sleeve in place.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the beam is preferably in the form of a standard commercial I-beam, having a web ..10 and flanges 11.-

The ends are reduced in depth, the flanges 12, being, however, of the same width and being joined to the flanges 11, by the diagonal flanges 13. The web 1% is of substantially the same thickness as the web 10.

The sleeve or bearing trunnion 15 for the brake head is in the form of a cylinder having a central recess shaped to nicely fit the reduced end of the beam. This member may be in the form of a casting and is provided with inwardly projecting lugs or ears 16. These lugs are apertured to register with an aperture 17 in the neutral axis of the beam, and a single fastening rivet secures the parts in place.

A fulcrum 18 is provided, having integral inwardly projecting lugs 19 of a' depth slightly less than the width of the space between the flanges 12 at the reduced end portion. Thus the fulcrum may be readily sli ped into place over the end of the beam be ore locating the neutral axis of the beam.

The construction will be found to be highly eiiicient and relatively highly economical to produce. Modifications may be made in the structure without .departure from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

In a brake beam, the combination of a commercial I-beam, the depth of which is the sleeve and suitably secured by a pair of rivets 20, also located'in reduced by compression at its ends, the

width of the flanges, and thickness of the web being substantially unchanged, and integral sleeves fitted over the ends of said beam, said sleeves having inwardly projecting attaching ears for engagement b a transverse rivet, substantially as descri ed.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 23rd day of March A. D. 1917.

WILLIAM C. HEDGCOCK. 

